Engine foundation



June 1950 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ET AL 2,511,513

ENGINE FOUNDATION Filed Dec. 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l W H H H WITNESSES:

(ALL, ATTORNEYS.

June 13, 1950 H. J. wooLsLAYER ET A1. 2,511,613

ENGINE FOUNDATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1945,

jiffy. .5.

I DANVEN 0R8 l a aw ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ENGINE FOUNDATION H. J. WOOLSILAYER El AL June 13,

Filed Dec. 5, 1945 621;, ATTORNEYS.

ITNESSES:

Juhe 13, 1950 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ET AL I 2,511,613

ENGINE FOUNDATION Fil e d Dec. 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Shea; 4

,WITNESSES:

am; ATTORNEYS.

Q vNv NTORS? Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OF FJICE "ENGINE FOUNDATION lHomer II. Woolslayer, Erwin A. Campbell, and -Cecil Jenkins, Tulsa, Okla assignors by mesne assignments, to Lee ,6. Moore -(imf-lmmtion, Pittsburgh, Pa .a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 5, 1,945, Serial N-o. B32,-989

This invention relates to frameworks or foundations for supporting power units, i re, the

draw-works and driving engines, of oil well drilling apparatus. Such power unit foundations will be referred to herein as engine foundations.

The power units of oil well drilling apparatus must be mounted on firm foundations. Although .they can be built :up at the drilling site, they also can be bought as prefabricated noundations from the manufacturers of oil well equipment. Heretofore, prefabricated engine foundations have had to be made in many diiferentsizes because different types and sizes of draw-works require different sizes and numbers of engines to operate them. An engine foundation suitable forthe power unit at one well might be too small for the power unit at another well, or too small to receive a larger replacement unit.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a universal engine foundation which .adjustable for accommodating power units .of seweral different sizes, and which is strong and rigid power unit, the frame is moved outwardly on the substructure to locate the outer end of the frame in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions, depending upon the length of foundation required, overhanging the end of the substructure. Means are provided for fastening the frame to the substructure in any one of these positions. When the overhang of the frame is relatively great, its outer end is supported by braces removably connected to the projecting end and to the adjacent end of the substructure.

When the power unit to be supported is too wide for this particular foundation, two of the substructures are placed side by side and rigid-1y connected together. In such a case it is preferred to turn the adjustable frames 90 a horizontal plane and to do likewise with the cross members, because the skids on the larger power units generally extend crossways instead of from front to back as in the case of the smaller units. Also,

the ends of the frames will project from the sub- 6 Claims. I (01. .248- -23) turned the other way structures further than when the frames are because the, frames are longer in nne'direction than the other.

The invention is illustrated in the accompany ing drawingsin which Fig. 1 is a plan view of our engine foundation showing in broken .lines different locations to which the outer end of the frame can be moved; Fig. 2 is a side view of the foundation; Fig.3 is arr-rend view thereof; Figs. 4 and 5. :are fragmentary side views showing; the frame extended to two difilerent positions; Rig. 6 is a plan view of two substructures rigidly connected together; Fig, .7 is a side view of this 'rficatien; Fig. 8 is an end view thereof; FigwQ is a fragmentars plan view of the double foundationwith one of the adjustable frames moved out wardly; andF-ig. 10 is a fragmentary side'view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the first three figures of the draw-- ings, a fabricated. structural steel substructure A of an engine foundation is formed from a pair laterally :spacedhorizontal skids l above which :a pair of parallel I-beams 2 are supported by verticalrangle bars 3 welded to the tops of the skids and the bottoms of the beams. Diagonal horizontal angle bars- 4 and inclined angle bars 5 are joined. to different members just mentioned. and upper :and lower transverse angle bars 26 are securedte beams and skids, all for purpose of aeinforeingthe substructure and make ing it rigid. :The length of the substructure lis considerably greater than its width, but isno greaterzvthan required; for supporting the smallest size ipower unit;xconsisting-of draw-works and: engine, that may be used.

,Resting'on top of beams, 2 at one end of the snbstrmture is a generally rectangular frameB- that is 'lnnger one direction. than the other, This frame is- 'formed from: a pair of spaced parallel:..side.members I that project beyond both sidesofthe substructure and that are joined. by, connecting members 8 between them. These connecting members. are; spaced the sameqdis tance apart as the underlying beams .2 aiongthe Between the frame B and the opposite .end- -of;

the substructure there are several cross men a-, bers; 12, three generally being enough, that rest, on beams Zand are substantially as long as side members 1 of-theframa- At least two of the cross membersha ve punched vertical plates 13 welded to their ends. All of these members are removably connected to the beams by bolts M. The top of the frame and the tops of the cross members preferably lie in the same horizontal plane and are adapted to support a draw-works and its driving engine or engines, not shown. Members 1 and I2 "will extend transversely of the skids or beams that are on the bottom of such a power unit.

In case a larger power unit is to be supported by this foundation than it can accommodate with frame B in the position shown in Fig. 1, the length of the foundation can be increased by moving the frame outwardly on substructure A to locate the outer end of the frame in any one of several predetermined positions overhanging the end of the substructure. Fig. 1 shows in broken lines four different positions to which the frame may be adjusted from its normal position. If these positions are one foot three inches apart, for example, the length of the engine foundation can be increased a total of five feet if desired. In any position into which the frame is adjusted the frame is fastened to the underlying beams by bolts ID, the beams previously having been provided with bolt-receiving holes in the necessary locations.

- In the first position into which the frame is adjusted, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2,

- the frame does not'project beyond-the substructure far enough to require additional support for its projectin end, but in the other positions bracing is desirable or necessary. As shown in Fig. 4, this auxiliary support canbe given by bolting the lower ends of inclined braces it, each of which may be made from a spaced pair of channels, to vertical plates i1 permanently secured to the ends of the skids, while the upper ends of the braces are bolted to brackets I8 detachably connected to the bottom of the frame. In the two positions of the frame shown in Figs. 4 and 5 these brackets are bolted to the bottom of the outer side member 7 of the frame, but when the frame is in its outermost position, shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, the brackets are bolted to the connecting members 8 of the frame. The platesand brackets are provided with holes that allow the braces to be bolted to them in the two different positions shown-inthe drawings. When the frame isjmoved to one of its projecting positions the cross member 12 next to it may be moved in the same direction so that the space between this member and the frame will not become too great.

' In some cases this single unit foundation may not be wide enough for the draw-works that it is desired to employ. This situation can be taken care of, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, by placing two of the substructures A side by side in spaced parallel relation, and rigidlyconnecting them together by suitable bracin means. Preferably these bracing meansare in the form of three panels 2| constructed from angle bars. One panel is bolted to each end of the substructure in a vertical position, while the third one is positioned horizontally and bolted to the central portions of the adjacent skids I of the two substructures. With this arrangement of the substructures the cross members 12 are disconnected from beams 2 and the central one of each set is laid aside. The restjof them are laid lengthwise of the beams with their outer ends flush with the corresponding ends of the beams to which they are reconnected :by bolts M.' Cross braces 22 may be bolted to these members tohelp steady them. Also, each frame B is turned so that its side members 1 will extend along the beams under it. The inner ends of these frames may be placed against the inner ends of the cross members, and the frames are bolted to the beams by bolts Ill. The outer ends of the frames will project beyond'the underlying substructures. The principal reason for turning cross members l2 and frame B90 is to form a support for the skids of the large power unit which .extends crossways of the engine foundation.

When still larger power units are to be used the length of the foundation can be increased, as in the first embodiment, by moving frames B outwardly on the substructures to locate their outer ends in any one .of a plurality of predetermined positions overhanging the adjacent ends of the substructures. As shown in Fig. 10, the same braces l6 and brackets l8 as disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 may be used to support the overhanging ends of the frames. When the frames are thus moved outwardly, the space between their inner ends and the cross members 12 on beams 2 may be filled with short filler members 23 having welded to their ends vertical plates 24 which are connected by bolts 25 to the end plates 9 and I3 on the adjoinin frames and cross members 12. m

It will be seen that by the use of a single adjustable engine foundation such as disclosed herein, power units of several different sizes can be supported.

one type and size of foundation for all services.

According tothe provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle and construction of our invention and have illustrated and described what We now consider to,

represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illus-' trated and described.

We claim:

1. An extendible engine foundation comprising an elongated substructure having a skid base, a horizontal frame adjustably mounted ontop of the substructure at one end thereof, said frame being movable outwardly on the substructure tolocate the outer end of the frame in anyone of a plurality of predetermined positions overhanging the end of the substructure, means for fastening the frame to the substructure in each of said;

positions, .a removable brace for supporting the outer end of the frame when itoverhangs said end of the substructure, means for rigidlyconnecting the upper end of the-braceto the frame in:

different positions, a bracket rigidly connected to the skid base, and'means for connecting the brace to the bracket in diiferent positions corresponding with different positions of the over--' one end thereof with the outer end of the frame;

normally disposed close to one end of the substructure, said frame"being'movable outwardly on the substructure to locate-the outer end of .the

frame in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions overhanging the end of the substruc ture, means for-fastening the frame-to the sub-" If two identical foundations are used together, power units of still larger sizescan be accommodated. A manufacturer of these, foundations therefore need make and sell only,

structure in each of said positions, a bracket adjustably and removably mounted on the bottom of the outer end portion of the frame when it overhangs said end of the substructure, and a removable brace connected to said bracket and to the lower portion of the substructure to support the overhanging frame.

3. An extendible engine foundation comprising an elongated substructure having beams extending lengthwise of its top, a horizontal frame adjustably mounted on said beams at one end of the substructure, said frame being formed from a pair of parallel side members connected by a pair of parallel connecting members, each pair of said parallel members being spaced apart substantially the same distance as said beams, said side members being materially longer than said connecting members, said frame being movable outwardly on said beams to locate its outer end in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions overhanging the ends of the beams, and means for fastening the frame to the substructure in each of said positions with either pair of said parallel members extending lengthwise of said beams.

4. An extendible engine foundation comprising an elongated substructure having beams extending lengthwise of its top, a horizontal frame adjustably mounted on said beams at one end of the substructure, said frame being formed from a pair of parallel side members connected by a pair of parallel connecting members, each pair of said parallel members being spaced apart substantially the same distance as said beams, said side members being materially longer than said connecting members, said frame being movable outwardly on said beams to locate its outer end in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions overhanging the ends of the beams, means for fastening the frame to the substructure in each of said positions with either pair of said parallel members extending lengthwise of said beams, spaced cross members mounted on said beams at the other end of the substructure, and means for fastening said cross members to the beams transversely thereof when said connecting members extend lengthwise of the beams and for fastening said cross members to the beams lengthwise thereof when said side members extend lengthwise of the beams.

5. An extendible engine foundation comprising an elongated substructure having a skid base and beams extending lengthwise of its top, a horizontal frame adjustably mounted flat against the top of said beams at one end of the substructure, said frame being formed from a pair of parallel side members connected by a pair of parallel connecting members, each pair of said parallel members being spaced apart substantially the same dis tance as said beams, said side members being materially longer than said connecting members, all of said members normally resting on said beams but said frame being movable outwardly on the beams to locate its outer end in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions overhanging the ends of the beams, and bolts for fastening the frame to the substructure in each of said positions with either pair of said parallel members extending lengthwise of said beams.

6. An extendible engine foundation comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel substructures each having beams extending lengthwise of its top, means rigidly connecting the substructures together to form a rigid unit, a horizontal frame adjustably mounted on each substructure at one end thereof and projecting outwardly to overhang the substructure, parallel members mounted lengthwise on the opposite ends of said beams, the upper surfaces of said frames and parallel members lying in substantially the same horizontal plane, the frames being movable outwardly on the underlying substructures to locate the outer ends of the frames in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions, and means for fastening the frames to the substructures in each of said positions.

HOMER J. WOOLSLAYER.

ERWIN A. CAMPBELL.

CECIL JENKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

